The US-Russia Agreement: Let's Stick to a Diplomatic Solution

Published in Ryukyu Shimpo
(Japan) on 16 September 2013
by Editorial (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Stephanie Sanders. Edited by Brent Landon.
The tense international situation over Syria has approached a turning point toward a political resolution. The U.S. and Russia have agreed to a framework in which Syria, under international control, must completely dispose of the chemical weapons in its possession by the middle of next year.

In this way, U.S. military intervention in Syria has been avoided for the time being. Relations between the U.S. and Russia have deteriorated over the exile of a former employee of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), but they have worked hard together to come up with a compromise. I want to directly evaluate this cooperative approach.

Syria’s Assad regime should implement the U.S.-Russia agreement without delay. I want the international community to continue stressing and reinforcing diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the civil war in Syria.

The U.S. and Russia coincide in their recognition that Syria is in possession of an estimated 1,000 tons of chemical weapons. They have demanded that the Assad regime report the type and volume of chemical weapons, storage sites, research and development facilities, and so forth within one week and require Syria to receive an international inspection by November this year.

Within the U.S., there is deep-rooted skepticism and suspicion of cover-ups regarding the Assad regime. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Assad regime, in preparation for an attack from the U.S., has been scattering chemical weapons storage sites since approximately one year ago.

Prior to the U.S.-Russia agreement, the Assad regime admitted to possession of chemical weapons and declared its intentions to participate in a chemical weapons ban. Camouflage and stalling for the purpose of avoiding a U.S. attack will by no means be tolerated. Russia holds strong influence over Syria and can also be described as having significant liability.

On the one hand, dissident groups in Syria are opposed to the U.S.-Russia agreement, and it’s a foregone conclusion that inspection activities during a civil war will be extremely difficult. Experts have suggested the deployment of a multinational force that would be responsible for the security of the chemical weapons and the safety of the inspectors, and so on.

Above all, international cooperation is essential to the technological and financial aspects of the disposal work. Japan, as well, must offer its technical know-how and supportive efforts within the range that our constitution permits.

With the current agreement, a change can be seen in the way that the U.S. engages with the global community. Until now, the U.S. has proclaimed its own righteousness and persisted in its principle of “American exceptionalism,” wherein the U.S. considers itself to be exceptional. Carrying out the complete disposal of chemical weapons without use of military force will greatly influence this behavioral principle of the U.S. from this point on. I assume President Obama will not exclude the option of military force, but he should pursue a diplomatic solution in accordance with international laws.


対シリア米ロ合意 外交的解決を貫こう
2013年9月16日
シリアをめぐって緊迫していた国際情勢は、政治的解決に向けた転換点を迎えた。米国とロシアは、シリアが保有する化学兵器を国際管理下で来年半ばまでに完全廃棄させる枠組みで合意した。
 これにより、米国によるシリアへの軍事介入は当面回避される。米中央情報局(CIA)元職員の亡命問題などで関係が悪化していた米ロだが、今回は互いに歩み寄り知恵を絞った。協調姿勢を率直に評価したい。
 シリアのアサド政権は米ロの合意を受け入れ、速やかに履行すべきだ。国際社会は引き続き協調し、シリアの内戦終結に向けた外交努力を強化してもらいたい。
 米ロは、シリアが推定約千トンの化学兵器を保有しているとの認識で一致。アサド政権に対し、1週間以内に化学兵器の種類や数量、保管場所、研究・開発施設などを申告し、ことし11月までに国際査察を受け入れるよう要求した。
 米国内ではアサド政権に対し、隠蔽(いんぺい)工作の疑いなど懐疑的な見方も根強い。米紙ウォールストリート・ジャーナルは、アサド政権が米国の攻撃に備え、約1年前から化学兵器の保管場所を分散させていたと報じた。
 アサド政権は米ロ合意に先立ち、化学兵器の保有を初めて認め禁止条約に加盟する意向を表明した。米国の攻撃を回避するためのカムフラージュや時間稼ぎは決して許されない。シリアに強い影響力を持つロシアの責任もまた重大と言えよう。
 一方、シリアの反体制派は米ロ合意に反発しており、内戦下での査察活動は困難を極めるのは必至とされる。専門家からは、多国籍軍を派遣して化学兵器の確保と査察官の安全保障を担うことなども提案されている。
 とりわけ、廃棄作業では、技術面や資金面など国際協力が不可欠だ。日本としても技術的なノウハウの提供など、憲法が許容する範囲内で支援に取り組むべきだ。
 今回の合意は、米国の国際社会への関わり方の変化も見てとれる。これまで米国は、自らの「正義」を振りかざし、自国は特別とする「例外主義」を貫いてきたからだ。武力行使なしに化学兵器の完全廃棄を実現することは、今後の米国の行動原理にも大きな影響を与えよう。オバマ大統領は武力行使の選択肢を除外しないとするが、国際法にのっとり外交的解決を追求すべきだ。
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